GP Barcelona
A Mercedes will also be in pole position in the seventh race of 2026. George Russell hit back again in Barcelona, with pole ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen could keep up with the violence for a long time, but had to make do with P5.
George Russell on pole, just 0.064 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton. At least there behind Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. Yes, Max Verstappen was also not far behind with three-tenths of a second, in the nice shoot-out that culminated in qualifying in Barcelona.
A gigantic blow from Charles Leclerc marred the start of Q3. Ferrari’s Monegasque lost control of his Ferrari in the first sector and shot straight through the gravel almost head-on into the tire pile. He was able to leave his car under his own power, but the code red took a while.
And with only eight minutes left on the clock, everything had to be right for the gentlemen who wanted to go for pole. It was Russell who once again secured pole for Mercedes in a slightly more difficult weekend for Antonelli, as the team took pole position at all races this year. Between the two cocks, Lewis Hamilton managed to settle into P2.
Lando Norris (fourth) was also close behind. But what was also striking was that after three difficult training sessions, Verstappen was able to participate very well, until the end. For a long time he even drove around Russell’s time in Q3. The Limburger stranded at three tenths and could not immediately identify over the on-board radio where he had lost that time.
Treacherous circumstances
With 31 degrees, a tarmac temperature of 51 degrees and a bit of wind, the conditions were treacherous. And it will be the same tomorrow on the traditional circuit. A
Spanish tire eater, that’s what it will be. With Mercedes, the McLarens, Lewis Hamilton and also Verstappen at the front of the grid. “With all those flavors it will not be easy, but I will aim for the highest,” said Russell, who hopes to regain some points from Antonelli, who did not qualify on the front row for the first time this season.
“It’s nice to be among these men,” concluded Hamilton happily, who achieved an encouraging result on perhaps the fairest circuit of the calendar so far. “To be so close shows how hard we work in Maranello to strive for the highest. Hopefully there will be even more to squeeze out tomorrow.”
Very sad: the 22nd and last place for Fernando Alonso, who is most likely in his last race weekend in Barcelona. The Spanish crowd favorite was even beaten for the first time in 41 race weekends by teammate Lance Stroll, who recorded the 21st fastest time. Alonso deserved a better farewell.
liveblog
Russell Pole!
Lewis Hamilton falls just short and joins P2! That could have been a sensational pole, but George Russell is the fastest. “I finally feel like myself again,” the driver said afterwards.
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Verstappen to P5
Max Verstappen loses a lot in the last sector. He has to settle for fifth place.
Russell faster than Antonelli
George Russell is faster than teammate Kimi Antonelli for the first time in weeks. The Briton has the fastest time again for the time being. He drives a 1:14.679.
Everyone back outside
Kimi Antonelli makes a quick pit stop and is the first to return to the circuit. He is the first to set a time again. The other drivers now follow.
Waiting for an exciting ending
The drivers who have just driven quickly go in, change the tires and then go out again. Other riders also wait until the last minute to get back out. The battle is certainly not over yet.
Russell the fastest
Kimi Antonelli is slower than Max Verstappen and therefore comes fourth fastest. George Russell is the fastest driver at the moment. He drives a 1:15.145 and is therefore only 31 thousandths faster than Oscar Piastri.
Q3 resumes!
We continue in Barcelona. George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar drive out as quickly as possible.
Start time known
The session will resume in four minutes. Some drivers are already parking their cars at the end of the pit lane.
Red flag!
Charles Leclerc hits the wall hard after losing control of his car in Turn 4. Many drivers are affected by this red flag, because they cannot complete their lap. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are the only ones with a time.
This red flag could last a while. The tire stack took a big hit. Leclerc got out of his carbut you have to stay with the doctors for a while.
Piastri faster than Verstappen
Max Verstappen has set his first time. It was not a flawless lap from the Red Bull Racing driver. He sets a 1:15.328. Oscar Piastri is faster.
Max Verstappen can do it first again. Can the Dutchman achieve a good first round?
Q3 starts!
The battle for pole position begins! Will it be George Russell or will someone else come like a devil out of the box?
End of Q2, Hadjar safe
Isack Hadjar is safe and advances to the final part of qualifying. He is half a second behind George Russell. It promises to be an exciting Q3. Mercedes and Ferrari in particular seem to have a chance of pole position.
McLaren drivers improve
Lando Norris moves to fourth fastest time, while Oscar Piastri moves to P7. The drivers of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing believe it. The question is whether that is the one wise choice is for Isack Hadjar, who is eighth.
McLaren is looking for improvement
The McLaren drivers are already sitting down for their second attempt. Oscar Piastri is now in P10 and that must be possible better for the Australian.
Leading group close together
The top five are fairly close together for the time being. Max Verstappen closes the group two and a half tenths behind George Russell. McLaren drove a lap on used tires and will not join the competition for the time being. They still need to improve considerably.
Drivers faster than Verstappen
Charles Leclerc sets the fastest time. The Ferrari driver is a lot faster in the last sector and is therefore two tenths faster than Max Verstappen. Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are also under the Dutchman’s time. The latter is again the fastest. However, Verstappen does join.
Good lap Verstappen
Max Verstappen is again the first driver from the top teams to set a lap. This time he sets a 1:15.484. This means he is already driving a lot better than in Q1. Is this the step Red Bull and Verstappen need?
Drivers outside
The drivers are only now coming out for their first lap. Still amazing that the teams almost always go outside at the same time want, even if some time has already passed in the session.
Arjan Schouten
Arjan Schouten is a sports reporter and writes about Formula 1 and skating. He has been at Grands Prix since 2016 and follows Max Verstappen closely. Read all his stories this file.